Intrapartum stillbirth for sepsis complicating Arabin cervical pessary placement in a twin pregnancy

There is little evidence regarding the best treatment in case of dilated cervix and exposed membranes in twins. Current options for its management include vaginal progesterone, cervical cerclage and cervical pessary, but none of them had shown effectiveness compared to expectant management. We presented a case of twin pregnancy at 22 6/7 weeks gestation admitted to the hospital because of cervical insufficiency with bulging of membranes. An Arabin pessary was positioned after a failed attempt of cervical cerclage and no antibiotic was given in absence of signs of infection. Cesarean delivery was performed at 24 weeks gestation because of spontaneous preterm labor and spontaneous rupture of membranes with the first baby in a transverse lie position. At the uterus section, the first baby was stillborn, with Arabin pessary strictly adherent to his ecchymotic head, while the second baby was born alive. After diagnostic histopathological and microbiological investigations, we hypothesized that the first twin died for funisitis/sepsis and mechanical insult due to the strict adhesion of the pessary to the fetal head. We concluded that in case of bulging membranes and dilated cervix, antibiotic treatment should be evaluated, also in absence of signs/symptoms of infection or suspicion of rupture of the membranes, and pessary insertion should be avoided, namely at second trimester, because of the risk of its dislocation inside the uterus when contractions start and potential hurt to extremely preterm fetus.